Method for generating hypermutable organisms
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsNicholas Nicolaides, Bert Vogelstein, Kenneth W. Kinzler
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Abstract
Dominant negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation.
Claims22
A method of making a mammalian hypermutable cell, comprising the step of:
- introducing into a mammalian cell a polynucleotide comprising a dominant negative allele of the mismatch repair gene, PMS2, whereby the cell becomes hypermutable.
A homogeneous composition of cultured, hypermutable, mammalian cells which comprise a dominant negative allele of the mismatch repair gene, PMS2.
A method of generating a mutation in a gene of interest comprising the steps of:
- growing a population of mammalian cells comprising the gene of interest and a dominant negative allele of the mismatch repair gene PMS2, wherein the cell is hypermutable;
- identifying a cell wherein the gene of interest harbors a mutation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.